Outlaws D4 Vs. Cornwall Claycutters
12th April 2026
After a long off season spent indoors and an extended Spring Training campaign, opening day of the South West and Wales Baseball League finally arrived. The Division 4 Plymouth Outlaws travelled to face the Cornish Claycutters for the first ever meeting between the two sides, stepping straight into a tough test to begin the season. Conditions shifted throughout the day, with rain and even hail giving way to spells of sunshine, adding to the challenge.
It was also a day of firsts for the Outlaws. Benjamin Phillips, Austin Lister, Benjamin Barnett-Morlidge and Matt Ball all made their league debuts, while Iman Samarakoon featured in just his third league game. Danidu Samarakoon took the ball for his first ever start as a pitcher, and James Platten, despite representing Great Britain at youth level, made his first SWWBL league appearance.
Game 1: Claycutters take control
The Outlaws started brightly. Gregory Staniforth and James Platten showed good discipline to reach base before Jordan Brennan drove both in with a single to give Plymouth a 2–0 lead.
From there, the game shifted. The Outlaws struggled to find consistent contact, and the Claycutters capitalised. A big second inning, highlighted by Stephen Mills’ two-run ground rule double, turned the momentum, with walks and pressure on the bases allowing the hosts to take control.
Sean De’Ath’s two-run double in the third extended the lead further. Plymouth did respond, with Danidu Samarakoon and Iman Samarakoon both driving in runs, but without sustained offence it was difficult to claw back. The Claycutters continued to add on in the fourth to secure a 15–4 win.
Game 2: Outlaws respond in style
The response in Game 2 was immediate and emphatic.
Jordan Brennan again set the tone early, driving in two runs in the first inning, and this time the Outlaws built on it. A four-run second inning put Plymouth firmly in control, with Austin Lister picking up an RBI, James Platten drawing a bases-loaded walk, and constant pressure forcing errors and extending the inning. The defining moment came in the third. With the game still within reach, Benjamin Phillips stepped up and launched a towering home run deep to left field, a statement swing that shifted the energy completely and gave the Outlaws breathing room.
The Claycutters responded with three runs of their own, but Plymouth never allowed the momentum to turn. Jack Parsons delivered an RBI single in the fourth, before Iman Samarakoon added another to stretch the lead again. There was also a clear competitive edge throughout, particularly in the exchanges between James Shaw and Macaulie Macdonald, adding extra intensity to an already hard-fought contest.
On the mound, Macdonald led from the front, striking out 13 across five innings. Despite traffic on the bases, he consistently found a way through, supported by a defence that tightened up well behind him.
The 10–4 win secured a split of the double header, and after a challenging opening game, represented a strong response. With a mix of new players stepping into league baseball and key contributions across the lineup, it marked a promising start to the season for the Outlaws.
